Kohala Lighthouse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s cooking for the Kohala Lighthouse area (Big Island) over the next couple of weeks. I’ll tell you right now—this is a tough stretch. We’ve got a long run of poor conditions, so don’t rush to grab your board just yet.

Starting from Friday the 11th, all the way through till the morning of Wednesday the 24th, there’s hardly a session worth having. That’s almost two weeks of nothing but cross-shore winds, lumpy water, and sloppy waves. The swell size bounces around between 3ft and 8ft, but the wind is always on it—ENE mostly, blowing 12 to 22 mph—so it stays messy. The combined swell energy is moderate for most of that time, running between 163 and 940 (moderate wave energy), and the period is short, mostly 8 or 9 seconds, so the waves are weak and disorganized. For a reef break like this, you need clean conditions, and there’s just none. Beginners should stay away once the swell hits 5ft, and when it pushes past 8ft on the 17th, that’s expert-only territory, but even then it’s too choppy to be fun.

Water temp is around 82°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. The conditions? Just poor surf, day in and day out.

The only light in this tunnel comes on Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th. The swell holds around 7ft to 7ft from the east, with a longer 10 to 11-second period—more of a groundswell. That’s when the energy finally kicks up, hitting 1010 and even 1247 (strong wave energy). That’s the kind of power that can make this reef wake up. And on Thursday morning, the wind drops to a light breeze from the ENE at 6 mph, giving you a light cross-shore with just small ripples—that’s the cleanest it’s gonna get. Later that afternoon and into Friday, the wind picks up to a moderate breeze and the chop comes back, but Thursday morning is your window. Keep in mind, this east swell is not a perfect match for the break’s optimum north direction, so it might not be firing on all cylinders. Also, 7ft is expert territory—not for the faint of heart. With the longer period, it might stand up a bit walled on the reef, which the experienced crew can handle.

So, if you’re keen, circle Thursday the 24th of September. Thursday morning is your best shot, but it’s still a borderline call. The rest of the time? Honestly, with those steady cross-shore winds, it looks more like a kite-surfing setup than a paddling one.

Stay patient, boys. Rusty out.

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